SHEFFIELD STEELDOGS: Andre’s men are badly burned by the Flames

Bob Westerdale
Ice Hockey

SHEFFIELD Steeldogs new netminder James Flavell was in for a baptism of fire as his side lost 7-3 at home.

The former Billingham goalie faced 27 shots from Guildford Flames on Sunday as Steeldogs slumped at iceSheffield.

The night before, Dmitri Zimozdra had been in goal for Sheffield as they lost 1-0 at Milton Keynes Lightning. He made 29 saves.

But the scale of the loss to Flames must be a concern to player coach Andre Payette.

Greg Wood had given Dogs a lead after smart passing from etween Pavel Gomeniuk and Payette at 6:22.

Flames upped their game and levelled the score at 9:15 when David Savage managed to get a goal past Flavell.

Flames’ ex Steelers hero David Longstaff started the damage at 22:59 (assisted Curtis Huppe) followed by Huppe’s topshelf blast at 30:56 taking the score to 1-3, just after the Steeldogs looked as though they would score an equaliser.

Wood pulled back at 33:56, assisted Ben Morgan and Edgars Bebris, but Flames two goal cushion was restored a minute later by Richard Plant.

Huppe scored his second to complete Flames four-goal second period haul and a 2-5 scoreline. Huppe’s hat trick gave Steeldogs an insurmountable score to overturn but Andrew Sharp, for the second time, fought and lost again to Payette. During that penalty being served and another on Dmitri Rodin, Richard Plant scored his second at 45.22 to complete Flames scoring.

Steeldogs did not give up trying and Steve Duncombe took advantage during a Guildford penalty, scoring from the point at 50:55, assisted Rodin and Wood. Wood was awarded MOM.